32 HEALTH AND SANITATION
Decentralised water systems offer resilience after disasters
David Viola, IAPMO CEO In the spirit of sharing the unique experiences that shape the plumbing industries in our respective nations, the following article presents one expert’ s perspective on how decentralised water systems can enhance resilience, improve water security, and support disaster recovery efforts. Written by IAPMO Senior Communications Specialist Mike Flenniken, it is the next in a regular series of similar articles that will run in this magazine.
Dave Viola IAPMO CEO
By
Mike Flenniken
When hurricanes hit, they don’ t just damage homes and roads – they often also knock out water systems. In the days and weeks after such events, homeowners may be advised to avoid drinking tap water, treatment plants may be overwhelmed, and infrastructure may be offline for days.
For Tamim Younos, president of the Green Water- Infrastructure Academy and a member of ARCSA International’ s Education and Research Council, the key to future resilience lies in decentralised systems, smarter filtration strategies and greater public awareness.
Millions left vulnerable Younos draws a clear distinction between centralised and decentralised systems. Centralised systems rely on transporting large volumes of water across long distances – often from rivers, lakes or reservoirs – using energyintensive infrastructure.
“ In centralised systems, about two-thirds of the energy is used to transport the water from the source and water treatment plant to a city. And even if there’ s no breakdown, about 20 – 25 % of treated water is lost during the transportation,” he said.
In disaster scenarios, these systems become particularly fragile. Flooded pipelines can carry contamination. Power outages shut down pumps. And when key infrastructure is affected, millions can be left without clean water.
Decentralised systems, by contrast, focus on using water sources that are available locally – such as rainwater from rooftops or stormwater from surrounding areas. These systems treat water closer to the point of use, which reduces transmission water losses and increases energy use efficiency.“ Not
Dr Tamim Younos. all communities are usually impacted by a disaster. But centralised systems serve large areas, so if something happens, millions of people are affected,” Younos said.
Smaller, local systems are also less vulnerable to cyberattacks.“ Cyberattacks can target large water systems. They don’ t usually hack small ones.”
When a hurricane hits, potable water systems may stop functioning altogether – usually not because they’ re damaged, but because they’ re powered down.“ Since potable water supplies are energy dependent, if the pumping system
Supplied by IAPMO www. plumbingafrica. co. za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline September 2026 Volume 32 I Number 07